I'm not trying to spreard malicious rumours, but I've just found this on the Internet. I had a look after not being to top up my 'phone for a week, and wondering what was going on...

Donna

"Nov 02, 2009 (DMEUROPE via COMTEX) -- VOD | Quote | Chart | News| PowerRating -- Spanish MVNO Hits Mobile has ceased its business activity in Spain, due to serious financial difficulties, Movilonia reports, citing industry sources. According to the same sources, Hits Mobile has been unable to pay its suppliers for several months. Hits Mobile operates in Spain using the Vodafone network. For the moment, Vodafone is keeping all Hits mobile lines active, but has stopped receiving new subscribers and ported customers. The possibility of recharging Hits prepaid cards has also been restricted for the last few days. Hits Mobile has not released any comment on the situation or on what will happen to its customer portfolio. In November 2008, Kuwait-based operator Hits Telecom has launched MVNO operations in Spain. For this purpose, Hits Telecom has acquired 51 percent of Valencian company Metrored Mobile. Hits Mobile targeted three main segments - immigrants, tourists and foreign students living in Spain - and offered a range of low international call prices."

When I telephoned HITs mobile an hour ago I was informed that the police were trying to find those, possibly from another phone company, who had spread this untrue rumour, so it's hard to know who or what to believe. Meanwhile, their top-up service still isn't available, so if anyone can recommend an alternative with cheap rates to the UK, I'd be really interested. Donna

I have just received this from an Telitec employee in response to an email. (We bought our 'phones through them and have found them to be thoroughly reputable, so much so that we have in the last few days signed up for their broadband connection.) The email says:

"Hi Donna,

There are a few articles to find in the web but all these articles are all coming from the same source which is Movilonia. This information is not correct and the legal department of Hits is already dealing with it according to Hits."

My apologies to HITs and EoS members if I have unwittingly been party to malicious lies. I wish you a happy and sun-filled November. Donna

Thank you for your continuing info about HITS. We use this for our mobiles having changed from Movistar but only find it hard to top up as we are not too near a big Correo or the post room we use. Apart from that we have had no problems

I've recently bought a Hits card, and have had good service in changeover and topping up, to date. I heard the rumours and contacted Direct Telecom (who provide great telecoms services) who arranged my changeover. They confirmed it's a malicious rumour, and Hits legal action.

However, I have had problems this week topping up on -line, which seems to be more an IT problem. They did have problems with their IT system last Autumn, which did lead to non-payments, and may have fueled the rumour. Equally, it is not beyond belief that their IT system is being attacked. Telefonica/Movistar can overcharge me 42€ rent when I terminated my landline, and cut my mobile 5 hours before the agreed changeover time, taking 10€ credit I intended to use (and left me in difficulties): I understand from a colleague who used to work for them that this was standard practice. I'd believe almost anything of that bunch of thieves.

After being offered to receive "Auto" top ups on my mobile phone I thought the need to waste time finding somewhere to top up was a thing of the past. Instead of wasting time trying to get credit I wasted an average of five or six hours a month every month chasing credit that had been paid for but not received!

Despite e-mailing them copies of Bank transfers they blindly kept denying any wrongdoing.

Then I receive an e-mail telling me that :

We don´t know to which top-up corresponds the payment done on 22.10.10. The reference you sent us before 4F7 belongs to the receipt of the top-up we have made on your phone on 01.10.10.

My reply :

But what you are saying does not make sense?

You say that on the 01.10.2010 at 8:13:27 you gave me €30 credit.

Why would you take the payment on the 22.10.2010 ? 21 days later?

I do NOT believe this.

PLEASE CANCEL AUTO TOP UP IMMDEIATELY AS I NO LONGER TRUST HITS TELECOM.

Eventually after 55 e-mails and numrous calls I managed to get the €30 back, they took the money out of my account and then called me a liar and my Bank could not get the money back.

Then I receive this :

Sent: 24 November 2010 10:51

Dear Customer

We inform you that after further investigations in our systems we could find the technical error that occurred in October, 22nd . Therefore we are proceeding to refund you on your banking account 30€ for the top-up receipt dating on 22.10.10.

Should you require any type of further information, please do not hesitate to contact our customer care service.

Kindest regards

Atención al Cliente Hits Mobile

1212

Be very careful when dealing with this Company as every month they will pull the same tricks, I cannot imagine what it must be like for elderly people that do not have internet access to verify bank transfers etc as they only show as "Hits Telecom" on your statement and to get the actual individual statements for each time they take money costs money from the Bank. This is a massive massive deception that must leave them with millions of euro in there accounts at the wnd of every month of credit that has been paid for but not given to the customer.

I now just use the supermarket behind the petrol station in Quesada to buy my credit in cash.

I think you are not using "Auto Top UP" as Auto Top Up will take the money from your Bank or credit card "before" they give you the credit.

If you are going to use Auto Top Up from Hits Telecom I would strongly suggest that you keep a detailed record of each transaction and ensure that your Bank will provide a reference for each transaction as unless you have the reference number HITS will will not even acknowledge you as having made a payment.

I think maybe as with most Spanish Companies if you have a surname like "Lopez" or "Gonzalez" they will treat you differently, I dealt with the english speaking team (they refused to give me a name)

Hi there, I have just read this Post about Hits Mobile, I am also using Telitech, strange but I have just signed up February 2011, all seems to well. All services seem to be working. In fact I am very happy at the moment. Anything to get away from Vodafone.

I have been using Hits for quite a long time and have never had a problem.

The only thing to watch is that you Top up every three months. You even get free internet access via your Computer tethering this normally costs with other companies. Really I have had NO problems what so ever.